Whether you’re in the process of getting a new business off the ground or are tired of not making email marketing a priority, growing your list can be very beneficial. When people think about growing their email list, they often view this task as something that’s very daunting. While getting targeted subscribers on your list will require some work, accomplishing this goal doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Instead, you simply need to know the right strategy to implement. Based on our conversations with a wide range of businesses that have found success growing their email list, giveaways are an excellent option. Running a contest or giveaway is by no means a new method of increasing an email list. But the reason so many businesses still do it is because it works. So if you’re ready to kickstart the growth of your email list, here’s what you need to know about using this tactic to attract the right kind of email subscribers:

Elements of a Worthwhile Contest

There are two very important elements to making a contest worthwhile. The first is giving a prize that has a high level of perceived value. And second, the giveaway needs to be highly relevant to your business. Even if you sell services instead of products, make sure there’s a strong tie-in to whatever you’re giving away.

Make It Fun and Creative

One way to maximize the number of list subscribers who are truly interested in your business and minimize the number just looking for freebies is to add a fun or creative angle to your contest. If you’re unsure of what you should do, look to contests outside of your industry for inspiration.

Consider Working with a Partner

Although there are plenty of scenarios where it makes the most sense to run a contest on your own, partnering with one or more other companies can be an effective way to reach a larger number of potential email subscribers. Just be sure that if you go down this route, it’s with the right partner.

Have Realistic Expectations

The best possible email list for any business is one with the addresses of previous customers. When handled correctly, that list will drive the highest rate of repeat purchases. The important thing to realize is that list subscribers generated through a contest will only be around 25% as likely to buy. However, the ones who do will spend just as much on average as other subscribers, which is why this strategy is definitely worth using to speed up the growth of your email list.

If you want to ensure that you’ll be able to make the most of your email list as you start and continue to grow it, be sure to take a look at all the features that our email marketing solution provides.